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NBA playoffs, NHL playoffs, and MLB daily games. This is the time of year in which FanDuel and DFS players get as giddy as Augustus Gloop receiving a golden ticket to tour the Willy Wonka Chocolate factory. So many games and so many options are available that it can be hard to keep up at times. Don’t worry, Rotoballer is here to help you with your NBA playoffs picks so you don’t drown in a metaphorical chocolate river of DFS debt.
We have provided our daily picks throughout the year and we will continue to push hard during this second NBA season. Below are our favorite FanDuel DFS picks for Saturday April 18th, 2015.
Keep in mind, fantasy basketball is a fickle game when it comes to injured players, so be sure to check all lineups prior to tip-off. If you want to chat about your roster picks, check out the DFS chat room at the bottom of this post.
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Worth the FanDuel Investment
Monta Ellis (Dal, G) - $6,800
He was my sleeper pick two days ago, and now Monta Ellis seems like a no-brainer to roster again on Tuesday. With their backs up against the wall, Ellis made sure he gave everything he could to help the Mavericks stay alive against the Rockets in Game 4. Ellis’s 31 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal helped the Mavericks to their first win in the series, and his high fantasy production to low investment price ratio also carried many fantasy teams to victory in FanDuel. I fully expect Ellis to once again duel with Harden in this shooting guard match-up, and for Ellis to provide significant value for your lineup once again. In these four playoff games against Houston, Ellis has averaged 26.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals. His numbers have been terrific, and I find it hard to argue for leaving him off any daily fantasy roster at this point. This is no longer Dirk Nowitzki’s team, but Ellis’s, and the Mavericks will have to completely rely on him to tear apart Houston’s defense.
Honorable Mentions: Chris Paul (LAC, G), James Harden (Hou, G)
Blake Griffin (LAC, F) - $10,400
It is incredibly hard to predict what’s going to happen with the rest of this amazing Clippers and Spurs series, but we’re sure to see some more great performances out of the stars on both teams. Blake Griffin is an incredibly safe pick to make on FanDuel, due to his almost guaranteed dominant performances in the playoffs. He is faster than the players who are stronger than him on the Spurs, and he is stronger than the players who can keep up with him laterally. Griffin will have himself an amazing Game 5 and the rest of the series no matter the final outcome. Expect Griffin to play well in front of his home crowd, as he will look to make huge plays throughout the game to get the fans involved and to allow his teammates to feel the energy, as well. In order to avoid falling to a 3-1 deficit against the Spurs, Griffin scored 20 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists, and one steal in Game 4 of the series. We should continue to expect to see his great rebounding numbers if DeAndre Jordan is forced to sit due to Hack-a-Shaq, which only adds to his value as desperation should take over at this point for the Clippers.
Honorable Mention: Kawhi Leonard (SA, F)
Tyson Chandler (Dal, C) - $6,600
Compared to Dwight Howard and Deandre Jordan, Tyson Chandler is extremely undervalued at the Center position. Because Howard’s performance shifts game-to-game, and there is a lack of certainty with Jordan’s playing time due to a Hack-a-Shaq, Chandler is perhaps the safest investment of the three. He's also the cheapest. Chandler would be perfect for your lineup if you have invested heavily in the other positions. (You certainly should invest heavily everywhere with only two games on Tuesday). Chandler has been a model of consistency, as you essentially know exactly what you will get from him. In these four playoff games against Houston, Chandler has averaged 10.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks. The Mavericks will need Chandler to keep up his good play if they expect to stay alive in this series.
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard (Hou, C), DeAndre Jordan (LAC, C)
FanDuel Sleepers & Value Picks
Jamal Crawford (LAC, G) - $4,700
It is extremely difficult to find deep sleepers for FanDuel at this point in the playoffs as teams are cutting down rotations in a desperate attempt to advance to the next round. The Clippers go six deep, and Jamal Crawford is perhaps the most undervalued player on FanDuel. He could very easily explode for a 20+ point performance, and knowing that the Clippers will be playing at home for Game 5 should be huge for his heat-check tendencies. If you plan on entering a larger pool on FanDuel, consider Crawford for your second shooting guard slot, as he definitely has the propensity to explode for a huge performance. He has so far under performed in the playoffs, averaging 12.0 points per game in the four games played so far. However, he is definitely getting better after returning from injury, so have a look at Crawford when finalizing your lineup on Tuesday.
Honorable Mention: Josh Smith (Hou, F)
NBA & DFS Chat Room
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